Congratulations to the geniuses at New York University who have now confirmed, through thorough research and much to their surprise, that casual sex does not cause depression and low self-esteem.

It is surprising, dear people, that you find this so surprising. Have you never had a fun fling?

According to researchers: ‘When it came to those who were sociosexually unrestricted, having casual sex was associated with higher self-esteem and life satisfaction and lower depression and anxiety.’

‘Typically, sociosexually unrestricted individuals reported lower distress and higher thriving following casual sex, suggesting that high sociosexuality may both buffer against any potentially harmful consequences of casual sex and allow access to its potential benefits.’

Sociosexuality is just one of those made up academic words which essentially means that you don’t mind having sex outside of a relationship – although really, if you think about it, all encounters are relationships of some kind – are they not?

In the mean time, back in the real world, as long as you are having consensual, safe sex and you are both enjoying it,  fling on!

Find more shocking news on this story at Metro.